Harrick in Position for Rhode Island Job

After meetings with Rhode Island officials, the school president, members of the basketball team and even the governor of the state Tuesday, former UCLA coach Jim Harrick could begin serious negotiations as soon as today to take over the Rhode Island program.

Though Rhode Island Athletic Director Ron Petro acknowledged that the school has interviewed no other candidates, Petro refused to say if Harrick is the odds-on choice to replace departed coach Al Skinner.

“It’s unfair to ask me that,” Petro said from his office Tuesday night before leaving for dinner with Harrick. “We’ve had a long day, we’re both kind of dazed and we just want to unwind and have some dinner.”

Petro said that before any offer can be made, the school’s search committee--scheduled to meet this morning--must decide whether to make a recommendation to the president, who then must clear the candidate with an affirmative action committee.

“We’re just starting the process,” Petro said. “If all those things occur, then we can begin discussions about opening negotiations.”

But Petro has said he has made background calls to the Pacific 10, UCLA Athletic Director Peter T. Dalis and the NCAA about Harrick, who was fired by UCLA in November for the circumstances involving a falsified dinner receipt.

“I feel very comfortable with [the issue],” Petro told local reporters Monday. “We think he’s a great person and a terrific coach.”

Harrick 59, has been mentioned for various openings this season, but this is his first formal interview since his firing.

He seemed impressed. Harrick told the Associated Press that southern Rhode Island “is a great area to live,” the talent returning from last year’s NCAA tournament team is “above average” and the Atlantic 10 is a “great conference.”

“There’s a lot of positives,” he said.

Harrick’s final yearly compensation package at UCLA averaged to about $440,000; Rhode Island paid Skinner a reported $200,000 to $250,000 last season, the highest it has ever paid a coach.